US court nixes "special subpoenas" for file-sharers' names

"In a significant setback for the recording industry, a federal appeals court ruled today that Internet service providers cannot be forced to turn over the names of subscribers who are suspected of illegally sharing music on line. The ruling by a three-judge panel expressed sympathy for the recording industry, which has been hit hard by piracy and file-sharing among computer users. But it concluded that nothing in the law authorizes special subpoenas against Internet service providers compelling them to identify customers who might be engaging in copyright infringement..." [New York Times, 19 December] Click here to read the judgment in this case, RIAA v. Verizon Internet Services, Inc., and thanks to LawMeme for the pointer.